Elected officials representing Taunton have their own personal wish lists for the winner of this week’s U.S. Senate special election.

Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye Jr. said the man chosen to finish out the term of John Kerry — be it Democrat Edward Markey or Republican Gabriel Gomez — should strive to restore funding levels to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program.

“It’s been whittled away over the years,” Hoye said. “They really need to concentrate on restoring those much needed funds.”

The House Transportation-HUD Subcommittee this past week proposed a “mark-up” bill to cut grant funding nearly in half in fiscal 2014, dropping from $3.3 billion in fiscal 2013 to $1.6 billion.

A significant portion of that funding affects HOME, a program that provides low-income, first-time homebuyers with money for a down payment and closing costs.

It also provides cash to low-income homeowners to rehabilitate and bring their property up to code.

Kevin Shea, director of Taunton’s Office of Economic and Community Development, warned in early 2013 that Taunton’s piece of the block grant pie was being reduced by five percent from March through the reminder of fiscal 2013.

Shea, who oversees the program in Taunton, also said local block grant money goes toward social services affecting senior citizens, the city’s free dental program and the non-profit Associates for Human Services.

Block grant funding also provided $400,000 for the first phase of Taunton’s Downtown Sidewalks Improvement Project. The mayor says he doesn’t want the city to lose out on that kind of infrastructure-improvement funding.

Hoye, a Democrat who previously endorsed South Boston Democrat Stephen Lynch, also wants the new senator to help position Taunton for the federal COPS Hiring Program.

Money from that program is used to hire new officers for three years, with the stipulation that the city pay the fourth year’s salaries and benefits.

Taunton police have steadily been losing officers to retirement, but have not been able to hire replacements. Currently there’s not a single officer under the age of 30. The department, which did not qualify for COPS funding in fiscal 2012, has submitted a new application, according to Police Chief Edward Walsh.

State Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton, who previously endorsed Markey, said the top three priorities for the new Bay State senator should be “jobs, jobs and jobs.”

Pacheco said Markey is qualified to carry on the legacy of former Senator Ted Kennedy, funding initiatives to advance “education in general” as well as “health care issues.”

In Taunton, Pacheco said, that means funding the nascent life science center in Myles Standish Industrial Park, which he says will directly result in new jobs for Taunton and southeastern Massachusetts.

Page 2 of 3 - He’s also confident Markey will fight for job creation in the burgeoning green technology and energy sectors.

But Pacheco said he has no such confidence that the Republican challenger is capable of forging working relationships in the Senate.

Gomez, he said, has shown himself inflexible on key issues such as social security, Medicare and abortion.

He accuses Gomez of aligning himself with the “far right” camp of Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, as opposed to moderates, such as the late Gov. Paul Cellucci and former President George H. W. Bush.

Pacheco said he expects Markey to win. But added that “I take no election for granted.”

He cited the 2010 upset win of Scott Brown over Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley in a special election after the death of Ted Kennedy.

Shaunna O’Connell, R-Taunton, likewise said jobs and the economy need to take center stage.

Markey, during his two visits to Taunton in the run-up to the election, vowed to support Obamacare and to combat global warming.

He also promised to pursue clean tech job projects and to work for the repeal of the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling allowing corporations and unions to make unlimited campaign donations.

O’Connell said she wants assurances General Dynamics C4 Systems unit in Taunton will continue to receive defense contracts.

Last summer, the DOD announced plans to cut $400 million from a project that would have led to layoffs at the Taunton facility, which employs as many as 1,000 people.

The project cuts were dropped, in large part due to the efforts of then Sen. Scott Brown.

“(Kerry’s replacement) needs to be loud and clear in supporting General Dynamics,” O’Connell said.

She also wants the new senator to challenge aspects of the Obamacare program that would revamp the country’s health care system.

O’Connell said she’s concerned with “the heavy burden” and “over regulation” that will hinder small businesses forced to comply with the Affordable Care Act.

O’Connell specifically wants federal lawmakers to rescind a new tax on health-insurance providers. Opponents say the HIT tax will drive up premiums.

O’Connell also wants more scrutiny of the co-op program that, starting in October, will allow two dozen co-ops in 25 states to sell health insurance coverage.

She insists there’s no reason to meddle with the Massachusetts model of mandatory health-insurance coverage signed into law by former Gov. Mitt Romney.

“Ninety eight percent of our citizens (in the state) continue to have coverage. We’ve been doing it right since 2006,” O’Connell said. “To change it would weaken our ability to control our own destiny.”

Page 3 of 3 - Gomez, during his April appearance at an East Taunton pizzeria, said he would strive to establish term limits in the House and Senate, support the proposed Keystone pipeline project to pump crude oil from Canada to Nebraska, and enact spending reductions to reduce the $16 trillion national debt.